A Simple Guide to Hepatitis A
-----------------------------------
What is Hepatitis A?
-------------------------
Hepatitis A is a acute inflammatory infection of the liver which is caused by the hepatitis A virus(HAV).
How is Hepatitis A virus spread?
--------------------------------------
The virus is excreted in faeces and transmitted through contaminated food and water. Eating shellfish, cockle shells, prawns or crabs taken from sewage-contaminated water is a common means of contracting hepatitis A.
It can also be acquired by close contact with individuals infected with the virus.
HAV causes the liver to become enlarged, inflamed and tender resulting in all the symptoms of hepatitis.
There is no chronic (long-term) infection.
What are the Symptoms of Hepatitis A?
----------------------------------------------
A person is infectious for 2-3 weeks before he or she experiences symptoms:
1.fever and joint pains
2.jaundice
3.fatigue
4.loss of appetite
5.nausea and vomiting
6.abdominal pain
7.pale coloured stools and dark urine
8.itchy skin due to irritation by the bilirubin.
During the first week of the illness he feels very sick and weak.
As the condition improves, the patient generally feels better after the first week but may requires to rest at home for 6 weeks to avoid damage to the liver.
How is the diagnosis of Hepatitis A made?
-------------------------------------------------
A blood test is the best way to diagnose hepatitis A.
His hepatitis antigens are raised at the early stage but as his condition improves the antibodies become positive.
His liver function tests are also done to assess the damage to the liver.
Usually the serum bilirubin is high, liver enzymes or tramsaminase, alkaline phosphatase are raised in the acute stage of illness.
As the condition improves, these tests gradually returned to normal.
What is the Treatment of Hepatitis A?
---------------------------------------------
There are no medicines for treatment of Hepatitis A except for symptomatic treatment of symptoms.
1.Rest in bed
2.multivitamins especially vitamin B to improve the function of the liver
3.Lots of fluids
4.carbohydrate diet
5.Anti-itch creams and lotions to stop itch
Recovery is usual with very rare cases going on to cirrhosis of the liver.
What is the Prevention of Hepatitis A?
---------------------------------------------
Hepatitis A vaccination is the best protection.
It is usually given in 2 doses within 1 year.
Immune globulin can be given for short-term protection.
It is given before and within 2 weeks after coming in contact with hepatitis A virus.
The vaccine is recommended for travellers travelling to developing countries and people with chronic liver disease.
Always practice good food hygiene.
Avoid food like seafood which may be contaminated by unhygienic water.
Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before preparing and eating food.
Recovery is usual within 6 weeks.
What is the difference between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hepatitis A is spread through eating food contaminated with the HAV virus.
Examples include partially cooked shellfish (oysters, clams) or in situations where there is poor hygiene (food/drink/utensils contaminated with an infected person's faeces).
Most people suffer an acute episode and upon recovery have immunity to Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B is spread by contact with blood or body/fluids of an infected person (including a carrier) or from a carrier mother to her newborn during childbirth.
Hepatitis B infection can lead to hepatitis carrier stage or chronic hepatitis which can results in liver cirrhosis or cancer.
Showing posts with label contaminated food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contaminated food. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
A Simple Guide to Gastroenteritis
A Simple Guide to Gastroenteritis
-------------------------------------
What is Gastroenteritis?
---------------------------
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites resulting in leakage of fluid from the cell into the intestine(diarrhea),abdominal pain and vomiting.
What are the causes of Gastroenteritis?
--------------------------------------------
Viral Gastroenteritis:
The most common cause of Gastroenteritis is Viral.
Rota virus is the leading cause among children 3 to 15 months old and the most common cause of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years.
Adenovirus occurs mainly in children under the age of 2 years.
Caliciviruses especially the norovirus cause infection in people of all ages.
Astrovirus also infects primarily infants, young children, and the elderly.
Bacterial Gastroenteritis:
The most common cause is the E. coli bacteria, usually mild with diarrhea, abdominal pain and occasional vomiting. It rarely cause fever.
Salmonella, Shigella ,Vibrio cholerae, are more serious bacterial infection causing diarrhea and high fever.
Parasitic Gastroenteritis:
Most common is amoebic dysentery,common in India and Africa.
Other parasitic infection are giardiasis and threadworms.
What are symptoms of Gastroenteritis?
----------------------------------------------
The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are
1. watery diarrhea
2. abdominal pain
3. vomiting
4. headache
5. fever.
6.loss of appetite and energy
Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 48 hours after exposure to the germ and last for 1 to 2 days, though symptoms can last as long as 10 days.
How is Gastroenteritis transmitted?
------------------------------------------
Gastroenteritis can be highly contagious. The germs are commonly transmitted by people with unwashed hands.
People can get the germs through close contact with infected individuals by sharing their food, drink, or eating utensils, or by eating food or drinking beverages that are contaminated with the germs.
Noroviruses in particular, are typically spread to other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people and through contaminated water or food—especially oysters, prawns, crabs, lobsters, cockleshells from contaminated breeding waters.
How is the diagnosis of Gastroenteritis made?
-----------------------------------------------------
Doctors generally diagnose gastroenteritis based on the symptoms and a physical examination. Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to test for rotavirus or to rule out bacteria or parasites as the cause of your symptoms.
How is Gastroenteritis treated?
-------------------------------------
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis resolve without specific treatment.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections.
The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the symptoms which may include an antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps, medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin and slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).
Prompt treatment may be needed to prevent dehydration which is the loss of fluids from the body. Important salts or minerals, known as electrolytes, can also be lost with the fluids. Dehydration can be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination, excessive sweating, or by not drinking enough fluids because of nausea, difficulty swallowing, or loss of appetite.
The symptoms of dehydration are
excessive thirst
dry mouth
little or no urine or dark yellow urine
sunken eyes
severe weakness or lethargy
dizziness or lightheadedness
Mild dehydration can be treated by drinking liquids.
Severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids and hospitalization.
Untreated severe dehydration can be life threatening especially in babies, young children and the elderly.
The following steps may help relieve the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
1.Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a few hours.
2.Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips if vomiting is still a problem.
3.Give infants and children oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids and lost electrolytes. 4.Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like porridge or soups.
5.Avoid dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol until recovery is complete.
6.Get plenty of rest.
How is Gastroenteritis prevented?
----------------------------------------
You can avoid infection by:
1.washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after using the bathroom or changing diapers
2.washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before eating
3.disinfecting contaminated surfaces such as counter tops and baby changing stations
4.Avoid eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be contaminated
-------------------------------------
What is Gastroenteritis?
---------------------------
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites resulting in leakage of fluid from the cell into the intestine(diarrhea),abdominal pain and vomiting.
What are the causes of Gastroenteritis?
--------------------------------------------
Viral Gastroenteritis:
The most common cause of Gastroenteritis is Viral.
Rota virus is the leading cause among children 3 to 15 months old and the most common cause of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years.
Adenovirus occurs mainly in children under the age of 2 years.
Caliciviruses especially the norovirus cause infection in people of all ages.
Astrovirus also infects primarily infants, young children, and the elderly.
Bacterial Gastroenteritis:
The most common cause is the E. coli bacteria, usually mild with diarrhea, abdominal pain and occasional vomiting. It rarely cause fever.
Salmonella, Shigella ,Vibrio cholerae, are more serious bacterial infection causing diarrhea and high fever.
Parasitic Gastroenteritis:
Most common is amoebic dysentery,common in India and Africa.
Other parasitic infection are giardiasis and threadworms.
What are symptoms of Gastroenteritis?
----------------------------------------------
The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are
1. watery diarrhea
2. abdominal pain
3. vomiting
4. headache
5. fever.
6.loss of appetite and energy
Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 48 hours after exposure to the germ and last for 1 to 2 days, though symptoms can last as long as 10 days.
How is Gastroenteritis transmitted?
------------------------------------------
Gastroenteritis can be highly contagious. The germs are commonly transmitted by people with unwashed hands.
People can get the germs through close contact with infected individuals by sharing their food, drink, or eating utensils, or by eating food or drinking beverages that are contaminated with the germs.
Noroviruses in particular, are typically spread to other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people and through contaminated water or food—especially oysters, prawns, crabs, lobsters, cockleshells from contaminated breeding waters.
How is the diagnosis of Gastroenteritis made?
-----------------------------------------------------
Doctors generally diagnose gastroenteritis based on the symptoms and a physical examination. Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to test for rotavirus or to rule out bacteria or parasites as the cause of your symptoms.
How is Gastroenteritis treated?
-------------------------------------
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis resolve without specific treatment.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections.
The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the symptoms which may include an antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps, medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin and slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).
Prompt treatment may be needed to prevent dehydration which is the loss of fluids from the body. Important salts or minerals, known as electrolytes, can also be lost with the fluids. Dehydration can be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination, excessive sweating, or by not drinking enough fluids because of nausea, difficulty swallowing, or loss of appetite.
The symptoms of dehydration are
excessive thirst
dry mouth
little or no urine or dark yellow urine
sunken eyes
severe weakness or lethargy
dizziness or lightheadedness
Mild dehydration can be treated by drinking liquids.
Severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids and hospitalization.
Untreated severe dehydration can be life threatening especially in babies, young children and the elderly.
The following steps may help relieve the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
1.Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a few hours.
2.Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips if vomiting is still a problem.
3.Give infants and children oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids and lost electrolytes. 4.Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like porridge or soups.
5.Avoid dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol until recovery is complete.
6.Get plenty of rest.
How is Gastroenteritis prevented?
----------------------------------------
You can avoid infection by:
1.washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after using the bathroom or changing diapers
2.washing your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds before eating
3.disinfecting contaminated surfaces such as counter tops and baby changing stations
4.Avoid eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be contaminated
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